System for managing media content

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity, incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity with metadata that describes media content in the media file, and present a graphical user interface depicting a media file directory structure generated according to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describes media content in the media file. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/234,888 filed Sep. 16, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/972,490 filed Jan. 10, 2008, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to media content presentationtechniques and more specifically to a system for managing media content.

BACKGROUND

Multiple users within a household can have different but overlappingtastes in media content (music, photos, videos, etc.). Often such usersshare a common media library stored in a shared network drive that isorganized in directory folders. Leveraging media content via consumptionsoftware (e.g., Windows Media Player, Picasso, etc.) generally involvespointing the applications to one or more folders, where they scan forall media files therein.

This is generally a satisfactory method where tastes are exclusive toindividuals (e.g., Mom's media is stored in Mom's folder, Dad's media isstored in Dad's folder, and so on). However, when tastes overlap someusers create redundant copies of the media in multiple folders, or usean unwieldy method of sub-folders to reduce redundancy (a folder forstoring media files used by Mom exclusively, a folder for storing mediafiles shared by Mom and Dad, a folder for storing media files shared byMom and Johnny, etc.).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-4 depict exemplary embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a portal interacting with atleast one among the communication systems of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary method operating in portions of thecommunication systems of FIGS. 1-4;

FIGS. 7-9 depict graphical user interface embodiments generated by theapplication of the method of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storagemedium can have computer instructions for receiving a request to tag atleast a portion of a media file with an identity of a user, creatingmetadata corresponding to the identity of the user, incorporating in themedia file the metadata that identifies the user with metadata thatdescribes media content in the media file, and presenting a GraphicalUser Interface (GUI) depicting a media file directory structuregenerated according to the metadata that identifies the user and themetadata that describes media content in the media file.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a device can have acontroller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity,incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity withmetadata that describes media content in the media file, and present aGUI depicting a media file directory structure generated according tothe metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describesmedia content in the media file.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method caninvolve associating an identity of an entity with a media file, andpresenting a GUI depicting the media file in a media storage systemaccording to the identity of the entity and a description of mediacontent in the media file.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a first communication system100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100 canrepresent an IPTV broadcast media system. In a typical IPTVinfrastructure, there is at least one super head-end office server (SHS)which receives national media programs from satellite and/or mediaservers from service providers of multimedia broadcast channels. In thepresent context, media programs can represent audio content, movingimage content such as videos, still image content, and/or combinationsthereof. The SHS server forwards IP packets associated with the mediacontent to video head-end servers (VHS) via a network of aggregationpoints such as video head-end offices (VHO) according to a commonmulticast communication method.

The VHS then distributes multimedia broadcast programs via a local areanetwork (LAN) to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (e.g., a residential gateway or RG). The LAN can represent abank of digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located ina central office or a service area interface that provide broadbandservices over optical links or copper twisted pairs to buildings 102.The gateway 104 distributes broadcast signals to media processors 106such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present broadcast selectionsto media devices 108 such as computers or television sets managed insome instances by a media controller 107 (e.g., an infrared or RF remotecontrol). Unicast traffic can also be exchanged between the mediaprocessors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services suchas video-on-demand (VoD). It will be appreciated by one of ordinaryskill in the art that the media devices 108 and/or portablecommunication devices 116 shown in FIG. 1 can be an integral part of themedia processor 106 and can be communicatively coupled to the gateway104. In this particular embodiment, an integral device such as describedcan receive, respond, process and present multicast or unicast mediacontent.

The IPTV media system can be coupled to one or more computing devices130 a portion of which can operate as a web server for providing portalservices over an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network 132 to fixedline media devices 108 or portable communication devices 116 by way of awireless access point 117 providing Wireless Fidelity or WiFi services,or cellular communication services (e.g., GSM, CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, etc.).

A satellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the IPTVmedia system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115can be intercepted by a satellite dish receiver 131 coupled to building102 which conveys media signals to the media processors 106. The mediareceivers 106 can be equipped with a broadband port to the ISP network132. Although not shown, the communication system 100 can also becombined or replaced with analog or digital broadcast distributionssystems such as cable TV systems.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a second communication system200 for delivering media content. Communication system 200 can beoverlaid or operably coupled with communication system 100 as anotherrepresentative embodiment of said communication system. The system 200includes a distribution switch/router system 228 at a central office218. The distribution switch/router system 228 receives video data via amulticast television stream 230 from a second distribution switch/router234 at an intermediate office 220. The multicast television stream 230includes Internet Protocol (IP) data packets addressed to a multicast IPaddress associated with a television channel. The distributionswitch/router system 228 can cache data associated with each televisionchannel received from the intermediate office 220.

The distribution switch/router system 228 also receives unicast datatraffic from the intermediate office 220 via a unicast traffic stream232. The unicast traffic stream 232 includes data packets related todevices located at a particular residence, such as the residence 202.For example, the unicast traffic stream 232 can include data trafficrelated to a digital subscriber line, a telephone line, another dataconnection, or any combination thereof. To illustrate, the unicasttraffic stream 232 can communicate data packets to and from a telephone212 associated with a subscriber at the residence 202. The telephone 212can be a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone. To furtherillustrate, the unicast traffic stream 232 can communicate data packetsto and from a personal computer 210 at the residence 202 via one or moredata routers 208. In an additional illustration, the unicast trafficstream 232 can communicate data packets to and from a set-top boxdevice, such as the set-top box devices 204, 206. The unicast trafficstream 232 can communicate data packets to and from the devices locatedat the residence 202 via one or more residential gateways 214 associatedwith the residence 202.

The distribution switch/router system 228 can send data to one or moreaccess switch/router systems 226. The access switch/router system 226can include or be included within a service area interface 216. In aparticular embodiment, the access switch/router system 226 can include aDSLAM. The access switch/router system 226 can receive data from thedistribution switch/router system 228 via a broadcast television (BTV)stream 222 and a plurality of unicast subscriber traffic streams 224.The BTV stream 222 can be used to communicate video data packetsassociated with a multicast stream.

For example, the BTV stream 222 can include a multicast virtual localarea network (VLAN) connection between the distribution switch/routersystem 228 and the access switch/router system 226. Each of theplurality of subscriber traffic streams 224 can be used to communicatesubscriber specific data packets. For example, the first subscribertraffic stream can communicate data related to a first subscriber, andthe nth subscriber traffic stream can communicate data related to an nthsubscriber. Each subscriber to the system 200 can be associated with arespective subscriber traffic stream 224. The subscriber traffic stream224 can include a subscriber VLAN connection between the distributionswitch/router system 228 and the access switch/router system 226 that isassociated with a particular set-top box device 204, 206, a particularresidence 202, a particular residential gateway 214, another deviceassociated with a subscriber, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, a set-top box device, such as the set-topbox device 204, receives a channel change command from an input device,such as a remoter control device. The channel change command canindicate selection of an IPTV channel. After receiving the channelchange command, the set-top box device 204 generates channel selectiondata that indicates the selection of the IPTV channel. The set-top boxdevice 204 can send the channel selection data to the accessswitch/router system 226 via the residential gateway 214. The channelselection data can include an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP)Join request. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/routersystem 226 can identify whether it is joined to a multicast groupassociated with the requested channel based on information in the IGMPJoin request.

If the access switch/router system 226 is not joined to the multicastgroup associated with the requested channel, the access switch/routersystem 226 can generate a multicast stream request. The multicast streamrequest can be generated by modifying the received channel selectiondata. In an illustrative embodiment, the access switch/router system 226can modify an IGMP Join request to produce a proxy IGMP Join request.The access switch/router system 226 can send the multicast streamrequest to the distribution switch/router system 228 via the BTV stream222. In response to receiving the multicast stream request, thedistribution switch/router system 228 can send a stream associated withthe requested channel to the access switch/router system 226 via the BTVstream 222.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a third communication system300 for delivering media content. Communication system 300 can beoverlaid or operably coupled with communication systems 100-200 asanother representative embodiment of said communication systems. Asshown, the system 300 can include a client facing tier 302, anapplication tier 304, an acquisition tier 306, and an operations andmanagement tier 308. Each tier 302, 304, 306, 308 is coupled to aprivate network 310, such as a network of common packet-switched routersand/or switches; to a public network 312, such as the Internet; or toboth the private network 310 and the public network 312. For example,the client-facing tier 302 can be coupled to the private network 310.Further, the application tier 304 can be coupled to the private network310 and to the public network 312. The acquisition tier 306 can also becoupled to the private network 310 and to the public network 312.Additionally, the operations and management tier 308 can be coupled tothe public network 322.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the various tiers 302, 304, 306, 308communicate with each other via the private network 310 and the publicnetwork 312. For instance, the client-facing tier 302 can communicatewith the application tier 304 and the acquisition tier 306 via theprivate network 310. The application tier 304 can communicate with theacquisition tier 306 via the private network 310. Further, theapplication tier 304 can communicate with the acquisition tier 306 andthe operations and management tier 308 via the public network 312.Moreover, the acquisition tier 306 can communicate with the operationsand management tier 308 via the public network 312. In a particularembodiment, elements of the application tier 304, including, but notlimited to, a client gateway 350, can communicate directly with theclient-facing tier 302.

The client-facing tier 302 can communicate with user equipment via anaccess network 366, such as an IPTV access network. In an illustrativeembodiment, customer premises equipment (CPE) 314, 322 can be coupled toa local switch, router, or other device of the access network 366. Theclient-facing tier 302 can communicate with a first representativeset-top box device 316 via the first CPE 314 and with a secondrepresentative set-top box device 324 via the second CPE 322. In aparticular embodiment, the first representative set-top box device 316and the first CPE 314 can be located at a first customer premise, andthe second representative set-top box device 324 and the second CPE 322can be located at a second customer premise.

In another particular embodiment, the first representative set-top boxdevice 316 and the second representative set-top box device 324 can belocated at a single customer premise, both coupled to one of the CPE314, 322. The CPE 314, 322 can include routers, local area networkdevices, modems, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) modems, any othersuitable devices for facilitating communication between a set-top boxdevice and the access network 366, or any combination thereof.

In an exemplary embodiment, the client-facing tier 302 can be coupled tothe CPE 314, 322 via fiber optic cables. In another exemplaryembodiment, the CPE 314, 322 can include DSL modems that are coupled toone or more network nodes via twisted pairs, and the client-facing tier302 can be coupled to the network nodes via fiber-optic cables. Eachset-top box device 316, 324 can process data received via the accessnetwork 366, via a common IPTV software platform.

The first set-top box device 316 can be coupled to a first externaldisplay device, such as a first television monitor 318, and the secondset-top box device 324 can be coupled to a second external displaydevice, such as a second television monitor 326. Moreover, the firstset-top box device 316 can communicate with a first remote control 320,and the second set-top box device 324 can communicate with a secondremote control 328. The set-top box devices 316, 324 can include IPTVset-top box devices; video gaming devices or consoles that are adaptedto receive IPTV content; personal computers or other computing devicesthat are adapted to emulate set-top box device functionalities; anyother device adapted to receive IPTV content and transmit data to anIPTV system via an access network; or any combination thereof.

In an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device 316,324 can receive data, video, or any combination thereof, from theclient-facing tier 302 via the access network 366 and render or displaythe data, video, or any combination thereof, at the display device 318,326 to which it is coupled. In an illustrative embodiment, the set-topbox devices 316, 324 can include tuners that receive and decodetelevision programming signals or packet streams for transmission to thedisplay devices 318, 326. Further, the set-top box devices 316, 324 caneach include a STB processor 370 and a STB memory device 372 that isaccessible to the STB processor 370. In one embodiment, a computerprogram, such as the STB computer program 374, can be embedded withinthe STB memory device 372.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 302 can include aclient-facing tier (CFT) switch 330 that manages communication betweenthe client-facing tier 302 and the access network 366 and between theclient-facing tier 302 and the private network 310. As illustrated, theCFT switch 330 is coupled to one or more distribution servers, such asDistribution-servers (D-servers) 332, that store, format, encode,replicate, or otherwise manipulate or prepare video content forcommunication from the client-facing tier 302 to the set-top box devices316, 324. The CFT switch 330 can also be coupled to a terminal server334 that provides terminal devices with a point of connection to theIPTV system 300 via the client-facing tier 302.

In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch 330 can be coupled to avideo-on-demand (VOD) server 336 that stores or provides VOD contentimported by the IPTV system 300. Further, the CFT switch 330 is coupledto one or more video servers 380 that receive video content and transmitthe content to the set-top boxes 316, 324 via the access network 366.The client-facing tier 302 may include a CPE management server 382 thatmanages communications to and from the CPE 314 and the CPE 322. Forexample, the CPE management server 382 may collect performance dataassociated with the set-top box devices 316, 324 from the CPE 314 or theCPE 322 and forward the collected performance data to a serverassociated with the operations and management tier 308.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 302 cancommunicate with a large number of set-top boxes, such as therepresentative set-top boxes 316, 324, over a wide geographic area, suchas a metropolitan area, a viewing area, a statewide area, a regionalarea, a nationwide area or any other suitable geographic area, marketarea, or subscriber or customer group that can be supported bynetworking the client-facing tier 302 to numerous set-top box devices.In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch 330, or any portion thereof,can include a multicast router or switch that communicates with multipleset-top box devices via a multicast-enabled network.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the application tier 304 can communicate withboth the private network 310 and the public network 312. The applicationtier 304 can include a first application tier (APP) switch 338 and asecond APP switch 340. In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch338 can be coupled to the second APP switch 340. The first APP switch338 can be coupled to an application server 342 and to an OSS/BSSgateway 344. In a particular embodiment, the application server 342 canprovide applications to the set-top box devices 316, 324 via the accessnetwork 366, which enable the set-top box devices 316, 324 to providefunctions, such as interactive program guides, video gaming, display,messaging, processing of VOD material and other IPTV content, etc. In anillustrative embodiment, the application server 342 can provide locationinformation to the set-top box devices 316, 324. In a particularembodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 344 includes operation systems andsupport (OSS) data, as well as billing systems and support (BSS) data.In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 344 can provide or restrictaccess to an OSS/BSS server 364 that stores operations and billingsystems data.

The second APP switch 340 can be coupled to a domain controller 346 thatprovides Internet access, for example, to users at their computers 368via the public network 312. For example, the domain controller 346 canprovide remote Internet access to IPTV account information, e-mail,personalized Internet services, or other online services via the publicnetwork 312. In addition, the second APP switch 340 can be coupled to asubscriber and system store 348 that includes account information, suchas account information that is associated with users who access the IPTVsystem 300 via the private network 310 or the public network 312. In anillustrative embodiment, the subscriber and system store 348 can storesubscriber or customer data and create subscriber or customer profilesthat are associated with IP addresses, stock-keeping unit (SKU) numbers,other identifiers, or any combination thereof, of corresponding set-topbox devices 316, 324. In another illustrative embodiment, the subscriberand system store can store data associated with capabilities of set-topbox devices associated with particular customers.

In a particular embodiment, the application tier 304 can include aclient gateway 350 that communicates data directly to the client-facingtier 302. In this embodiment, the client gateway 350 can be coupleddirectly to the CFT switch 330. The client gateway 350 can provide useraccess to the private network 310 and the tiers coupled thereto. In anillustrative embodiment, the set-top box devices 316, 324 can access theIPTV system 300 via the access network 366, using information receivedfrom the client gateway 350. User devices can access the client gateway350 via the access network 366, and the client gateway 350 can allowsuch devices to access the private network 310 once the devices areauthenticated or verified. Similarly, the client gateway 350 can preventunauthorized devices, such as hacker computers or stolen set-top boxdevices from accessing the private network 310, by denying access tothese devices beyond the access network 366.

For example, when the first representative set-top box device 316accesses the client-facing tier 302 via the access network 366, theclient gateway 350 can verify subscriber information by communicatingwith the subscriber and system store 348 via the private network 310.Further, the client gateway 350 can verify billing information andstatus by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway 344 via the privatenetwork 310. In one embodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 344 can transmit aquery via the public network 312 to the OSS/BSS server 364. After theclient gateway 350 confirms subscriber and/or billing information, theclient gateway 350 can allow the set-top box device 316 to access IPTVcontent and VOD content at the client-facing tier 302. If the clientgateway 350 cannot verify subscriber information for the set-top boxdevice 316, e.g., because it is connected to an unauthorized twistedpair, the client gateway 350 can block transmissions to and from theset-top box device 316 beyond the access network 366.

As indicated in FIG. 3, the acquisition tier 306 includes an acquisitiontier (AQT) switch 352 that communicates with the private network 310.The AQT switch 352 can also communicate with the operations andmanagement tier 308 via the public network 312. In a particularembodiment, the AQT switch 352 can be coupled to one or more liveAcquisition-servers (A-servers) 354 that receive or acquire televisioncontent, movie content, advertisement content, other video content, orany combination thereof, from a broadcast service 356, such as asatellite acquisition system or satellite head-end office. In aparticular embodiment, the live acquisition server 354 can transmitcontent to the AQT switch 352, and the AQT switch 352 can transmit thecontent to the CFT switch 330 via the private network 310.

In an illustrative embodiment, content can be transmitted to theD-servers 332, where it can be encoded, formatted, stored, replicated,or otherwise manipulated and prepared for communication from the videoserver(s) 380 to the set-top box devices 316, 324. The CFT switch 330can receive content from the video server(s) 380 and communicate thecontent to the CPE 314, 322 via the access network 366. The set-top boxdevices 316, 324 can receive the content via the CPE 314, 322, and cantransmit the content to the television monitors 318, 326. In anillustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of the content can bestreamed to the set-top box devices 316, 324.

Further, the AQT switch 352 can be coupled to a video-on-demand importerserver 358 that receives and stores television or movie content receivedat the acquisition tier 306 and communicates the stored content to theVOD server 336 at the client-facing tier 302 via the private network310. Additionally, at the acquisition tier 306, the video-on-demand(VOD) importer server 358 can receive content from one or more VODsources outside the IPTV system 300, such as movie studios andprogrammers of non-live content. The VOD importer server 358 cantransmit the VOD content to the AQT switch 352, and the AQT switch 352,in turn, can communicate the material to the CFT switch 330 via theprivate network 310. The VOD content can be stored at one or moreservers, such as the VOD server 336.

When users issue requests for VOD content via the set-top box devices316, 324, the requests can be transmitted over the access network 366 tothe VOD server 336, via the CFT switch 330. Upon receiving suchrequests, the VOD server 336 can retrieve the requested VOD content andtransmit the content to the set-top box devices 316, 324 across theaccess network 366, via the CFT switch 330. The set-top box devices 316,324 can transmit the VOD content to the television monitors 318, 326. Inan illustrative embodiment, video or audio portions of VOD content canbe streamed to the set-top box devices 316, 324.

FIG. 3 further illustrates that the operations and management tier 308can include an operations and management tier (OMT) switch 360 thatconducts communication between the operations and management tier 308and the public network 312. In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 3, theOMT switch 360 is coupled to a TV2 server 362. Additionally, the OMTswitch 360 can be coupled to an OSS/BSS server 364 and to a simplenetwork management protocol monitor 386 that monitors network deviceswithin or coupled to the IPTV system 300. In a particular embodiment,the OMT switch 360 can communicate with the AQT switch 352 via thepublic network 312.

The OSS/BSS server 364 may include a cluster of servers, such as one ormore CPE data collection servers that are adapted to request and storeoperations systems data, such as performance data from the set-top boxdevices 316, 324. In an illustrative embodiment, the CPE data collectionservers may be adapted to analyze performance data to identify acondition of a physical component of a network path associated with aset-top box device, to predict a condition of a physical component of anetwork path associated with a set-top box device, or any combinationthereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, the live acquisition server 354 cantransmit content to the AQT switch 352, and the AQT switch 352, in turn,can transmit the content to the OMT switch 360 via the public network312. In this embodiment, the OMT switch 360 can transmit the content tothe TV2 server 362 for display to users accessing the user interface atthe TV2 server 362. For example, a user can access the TV2 server 362using a personal computer 368 coupled to the public network 312.

It should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from theforegoing media system embodiments that other suitable media systems fordistributing broadcast media content as well as peer-to-peer exchange ofcan be applied to the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication system 400employing a IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture.Communication system 400 can be overlaid or operably coupled withcommunication systems 100-300 as another representative embodiment ofsaid communication systems.

The communication system 400 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)440, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 430, and network elementsof an IMS network 450. The IMS network 450 can be coupled to IMScompliant communication devices (CD) 401, 402 or a Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN) CD 403 using a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 420 that connects the call through a common PSTN network 460.

IMS CDs 401, 402 register with the IMS network 450 by contacting a ProxyCall Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with acorresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with anAuthentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) support by the HSS440. To accomplish a communication session between CDs, an originatingIMS CD 401 can submit a SIP INVITE message to an originating P-CSCF 404which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF 406. Theoriginating S-CSCF 406 can submit the SIP INVITE message to anapplication server (AS) such as reference 410 that can provide a varietyof services to IMS subscribers. For example, the application server 410can be used to perform originating treatment functions on the callingparty number received by the originating S-CSCF 406 in the SIP INVITEmessage.

Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, and/or isrequesting special telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73cancel call forwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on).Additionally, the originating SCSCF 406 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 430 to translate an E.164 telephone number to a SIP UniformResource Identifier (URI) if the targeted communication device is IMScompliant. If the targeted communication device is a PSTN device, theENUM system 430 will respond with an unsuccessful address resolution andthe S-CSCF 406 will forward the call to the MGCF 420 via a BreakoutGateway Control Function (not shown).

When the ENUM server 430 returns a SIP URI, the SIP URI is used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 407 to submit a query to the HSS 440 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 414 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 402. Once identified, the I-CSCF 407 can submit theSIP INVITE to the terminating S-CSCF 414 which can call on anapplication server 411 similar to reference 410 to perform theoriginating treatment telephony functions described earlier. Theterminating S-CSCF 414 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 416associated with the terminating CD 402. The P-CSCF 416 then signals theCD 402 to establish communications. The aforementioned process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 4 can be interchanged.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a portal 530. The portal 530can be used for managing services of communication systems 100-400. Theportal 530 can be accessed by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with acommon Internet browser such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer using anInternet-capable communication device such as references 108, 116, or210 of FIGS. 1-2. The portal 530 can be configured to access a mediaprocessor such as references 106, 204, 206, 316, and 324 of FIGS. 1-3and services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), anElectronic Programming Guide (EPG), VOD catalog, a personal catalogstored in the STB (e.g., personal videos, pictures, audio recordings,etc.), and so on.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary method 600 operating in portions ofcommunication systems 100-400. Method 600 begins with step 602 in whicha user logs into a computing device of the subscriber by common means.The computing device can be a computer, a media processor such as anSTB, a communication device such as a fixed line phone or wirelessdevice such as a cell phone or WiFi enabled communication device. Theaforementioned computing devices can be represented by references 106,107, 108, 116, 204, 206, 210, 212, 320, 316, 324, 368, 401, 402, or 403in FIGS. 100-400. A log in process can represent turning on thecomputing device, and/or providing authentication data such as a username and password, personal identification number, biometric informationor other suitable authentication data.

In step 604 the user can initiate a transfer of a media file to thecomputing device from a common media source. The media source canrepresent any media device capable of storing and/or generating mediafiles. Examples of a media source can be a portal or website such asreference 530 with a library of media files (music, movies, video games,still pictures, etc.); a DVR with one or more recorded media programs; acamcorder with recorded videos; a cell phone with ring tones, pictures,and videos; a media player such as an iPod™ with music and video files;an STB with a library of personal movies of the subscriber, and Video onDemand (VoD) movies purchased by the subscriber; office applicationsoperating in a computer such as a Microsoft Word™ document, a MicrosoftExcel™ spread sheet document, a Microsoft PowerPoint™ document, aMicrosoft Publisher™ document, and so on. Any one of these media sourcescan serve as a source of a media file which can be transferred or copiedto another device (in this instance a computing device). Since acomputing device can also serve as a representative media source, step604 can represent for example a transfer of a media file from acamcorder to an STB serving as a computing device or vice-versa; atransfer of an Excel spreadsheet in one computer to another, and soforth.

At the computing device the user can use a navigation device such as amouse pointer to point in step 606 to the media file received from themedia source and perform an action recognized by the computing device.The action can be for example a right click of a mouse button whichpresents in step 608 a list of entities to associate to the media file.A representative illustration of step 608 is shown in FIG. 7. Thisillustration depicts a GUI with a selectable list of entities that canbe associated or tagged to the media file. An entity can represent forexample a user, a group of users, an alias, a consumption environment,or combinations thereof. In the illustration of FIG. 7 only individualusers are shown. It will be appreciated that groups of users, aliases,and/or a consumption environment selection can also be shown.

Entities can be defined by the subscriber, or can be identified based ona knowledge of all users who utilized the resources of the computingdevice. In one illustrative embodiment a media file can be tagged withan entity representing a single user (Mom). In another illustrativeembodiment the media file can tagged with an entity representing a groupof users (Mom, Dad, and children). In another illustrative embodiment amedia file can be tagged with a consumption environment. A consumptionenvironment can represent for instance a tag for parental controls. Forexample a media file can be tagged with a user restriction based on amedia content rating included in metadata that describes the mediacontent in the media file (e.g., only adults users can tag rated R mediafiles). In another illustrative embodiment parental controls can becontrolled by administrative rights established on the computing device.For example, a parent can provide a user a restricted subscriber accountin the computing device which requires the user to seek permission fromthe parent to tag any media file requested from the parent's library oraccepted by the user from any media source.

Thus when an entity selection is detected in step 610, the computingdevice can be directed in step 612 to check for parental controls. If noparental controls exist, the computing device proceeds to step 620 whereit associates the selected entity with the media file. The computingdevice can accomplish this step by creating metadata that defines theidentity of the entity selected, which is then incorporated or combinedwith metadata that describes the media file. If on the other handparental controls are active, the computing device can proceed to step614 where it reads a media content rating from metadata that describesthe media file.

The descriptive metadata can include among other things anidentification of an author of the media content (producers, actors,directors, etc.), a title for the media content, a hierarchicalstructure of the media content (e.g., a description of singles in analbum, movie scene selections in a movie, game selections, etc.), anindication of a presentation length of the media content, a genre of themedia content (action movie, heavy metal music, etc.), a publicationdate of the media content, and a rating of the media content (e.g., G,PG, PG-13, R, or other suitable rating formats).

With the media rating, the computing device can determine in step 616whether the tagging request complies with the parental controls. Forexample, a parent can establish settings in the computing device sharedbetween the parent and children so that all G-rated media can be taggedby anyone, while R-rated media can only be tagged by the parents. If thecomputing device detects in step 616 that the parental controls complywith the rating of the media file which the user seeks to tag, thecomputing device proceeds to step 620 and accomplishes the taggingprocess as previously described. If parental permission is required, thecomputing device proceeds to step 618 where it notifies the user of therestriction.

Once the media file has been tagged with an identity of an entity, thecomputing device can in step 622 generate a media storage system thatdepicts the media file in a GUI such as shown in FIG. 8. The mediastorage system can represent a media file directory structure generatedaccording to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadatathat describes the media content in the media file. For example, in thecase where the entity is an individual user, the media storage systemcan be established exclusively for the user and can be depicted by setsof directory folders. For example one set of folders can be organized bymovie genre (action, drama, etc.) and publication date; another set offolders can be organized by music genre (heavy metal, classical, etc.);another set of folder can be organized by performers (actors, singers,etc.), and so on.

A media file directory structure can broadly represent a file system ofany suitable form that can perform the tasks described herein. The filesystem can be an integral part of an operating system that managesresources of the computing device. The file system can represent forinstance conventional file systems such as a file allocation table (FAT)or a network file system (NFS) managed by an operating system (e.g.,Microsoft Windows™) adapted to method 600 as illustrated by FIGS. 7-9.

The media storage system can be a virtual directory structure createdaccording to the identity of the entity and the metadata that describesthe media content. Accordingly, the directory structure created for oneuser may differ from another user although the same media file may bereferenced by both directory structures without duplication. Similarly,multiple folders can point to the same media file to provide the userflexibility in finding the media file in different ways. For example,media files organized by performers in FIG. 8 can show up also in afolder organized by producers and a folder of media files organized bypublication dates. Duplication of a media file may exist only insituations where a user edits or modifies the media file by removing oradding content to it. When this happens the media file can becomeexclusive to the user and made available to other users depending onwhether it is tagged for general availability.

The computing device can be further directed in step 624 to detect instep 262 a presence of a mouse pointer navigating near the tagged mediafile or acting upon the media file (e.g., selecting the media fileand/or right clicking a mouse button). When either of these activitiesis detected, the computing device can present in step 628 a sub-GUI thatshows the identity of the entity (or entities) that have tagged thismedia file, and useful information about the media file such as itstitle, presentation length, authorship, etc. An illustrative embodimentof this sub-GUI is shown in FIG. 9. In this illustration, the placing amouse pointer creates a sub-GUI window that provides a description ofthe media content in the media file, other users tagged to the mediafile, and with a drop-down menu to act on the media file (e.g., play themedia content).

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, method 600 can beadapted to perform automatic media file tagging. For instance, thecomputing device can be directed in step 604 to skip to step 612 asshown in FIG. 6 on the assumption that it already knows who the user iswhen the user logged in step 602. In step 620 the user can be associatedwith the media file based on this knowledge. In step 622, a user canalso define preferences for the media storage system. For example, theuser can indicate that video media files are to be organized both byperformers and producers. Such settings can be provided as input to anoperating system of the computing device or by other suitable means. Inyet another illustrative embodiment, the method 600 can be adapted sothat partial tags can be used. For example, a user can tag a singlemusic item in a music album rather than tagging the album in itsentirety.

Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present disclosurewithout departing from the scope of the claims below. Accordingly, thereader is directed to the claims section for a fuller understanding ofthe breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 1000 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operatesas a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or aclient user machine in server-client user network environment, or as apeer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or anymachine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly anyelectronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 1000 may include a processor 1002 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 1004 and a static memory 1006, which communicate with each othervia a bus 1008. The computer system 1000 may further include a videodisplay unit 1010 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system1000 may include an input device 1012 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursorcontrol device 1014 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1016, a signalgeneration device 1018 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a networkinterface device 1020.

The disk drive unit 1016 may include a machine-readable medium 1022 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 1024)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 1024may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 1004, the static memory 1006, and/or within the processor 1002during execution thereof by the computer system 1000. The main memory1004 and the processor 1002 also may constitute machine-readable media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 1024, or that which receives and executes instructions 1024from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 1026 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 1026 using the instructions 1024. Theinstructions 1024 may further be transmitted or received over a network1026 via the network interface device 1020.

While the machine-readable medium 1022 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; andcarrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions ina transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one ormore of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listedherein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, inwhich the software implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separately claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine-readable storage medium, comprisingexecutable instructions that, when executed by a processing systemincluding a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:accessing a first directory structure, wherein the first directorystructure provides access to a first portion of a plurality of mediacontent associated with a first user; and accessing a second directorystructure, wherein the second directory structure provides access to asecond portion of the plurality of the media content associated with asecond user, and wherein the first and second directory structures sharea shared portion of the plurality of media content without resulting ina duplication of the shared portion in a storage device used to store amedia file that includes the plurality of the media content; andgenerating an exclusive portion of the plurality of the media contentbased on an adjustment made to the shared portion of the plurality ofthe media content and enabling access via one directory of the first andsecond directory structures to the exclusive portion while maintainingaccess to the shared portion via another directory.
 2. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise presenting a first graphical user interface depictingthe first directory structure in response to receiving a first requestassociated with the first user.
 3. The machine-readable storage mediumof claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise presenting a secondgraphical user interface depicting the second directory structure inresponse to receiving a second request associated with the second user.4. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the mediacontent is associated with entities comprising the first user and thesecond user, and wherein additional entities are determined based onuser input.
 5. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 4, whereinthe operations further comprise: receiving a request to tag the mediafile as being associated with the entities; generating first metadata inresponse to receiving the request, wherein the first metadata describesentities associated with the plurality of the media content; andproviding the media file with the first metadata.
 6. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 4, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: receiving a request to tag the media file as beingassociated with the entities; generating first metadata based on theuser input; and accessing a parental control policy in response toreceiving the request, wherein the first metadata is generated when theparental control policy allows the entities to be associated with themedia file.
 7. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 6, whereinthe operations further comprise obtaining second metadata for the mediafile, wherein the second metadata comprises an identification of anauthor of the media content, a title for the media content, ahierarchical structure of the media content, an indication of apresentation length of the media content, a genre of the media content,a publication date of the media content, a rating of the media content,or a combination thereof.
 8. The machine-readable storage medium ofclaim 7, wherein the operations further comprise: determining a ratingfor the media content based on the second metadata; and applying therating to the parental control policy, wherein the first metadata isgenerated when the applying of the rating to the parental control policyallows the entities to be associated with the media file.
 9. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the providing of themedia file with the first metadata comprises combining the firstmetadata with the second metadata of the media file.
 10. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: presenting a graphical user interface comprising agroup of identifications for individuals; receiving a user selection ofan identification from among the group of identifications forindividuals; and generating first metadata based on the user selection.11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein theoperations further comprise: identifying users of a computing device asidentified users; and determining the group of identifications forindividuals based on the identified users.
 12. A device, comprising: aprocessing system including a processor; and a memory that storesexecutable instructions that, when executed by the processing system,facilitate performance of operations, comprising: receiving a request totag a media file as being associated with a first user of the device,wherein the media file comprises media content; generating a firstdirectory structure based on an identity of the first user and adescription of the media content, wherein the first directory structureprovides access to a first portion of the media content associated withthe first user; generating a second directory structure that providesaccess to a second portion of the media content associated with a seconduser, wherein the second directory structure shares a shared portion ofthe first portion of the media content with the first directorystructure without resulting in a duplication of the shared portion;generating an exclusive portion of the media content based on anadjustment made to the shared portion of the media content and enablingaccess via one directory of the first and second directory structures tothe exclusive portion while maintaining access to the shared portion viaa different directory of the first and second directory structures; andpresenting a first graphical user interface depicting the firstdirectory structure.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the operationsfurther comprise accessing a parental control policy stored in thememory in response to receiving the request.
 14. The device of claim 13,wherein the operations further comprise determining when the parentalcontrol policy allows the first user to be associated with the mediafile based on the determined rating.
 15. A method, comprising:receiving, by a processing system comprising a processor, a media filevia equipment of a first user, wherein the media file comprises mediacontent; generating, by the processing system, a first directorystructure, wherein the first directory structure provides access to afirst portion of a shared portion of the media file, wherein the sharedportion of the media content includes a same media content in the firstportion and a second portion of the media content; generating, by theprocessing system, a second directory structure that provides access tothe second portion of the media content, wherein the shared portion doesnot result in a duplication of the media file in a storage device usedto store the media file; and generating, by the processing system, anexclusive portion of the media content based on an adjustment made tothe shared portion of the media content and enabling access via onedirectory of the first and second directory structures to the exclusiveportion while maintaining access to the shared portion via a differentdirectory of the first and second directory structures.
 16. The methodof claim 15, further comprising presenting a first graphical userinterface depicting the first directory structure in response toreceiving a first request associated with the first user.
 17. The methodof claim 16, further comprising presenting a second graphical userinterface depicting the second directory structure in response toreceiving a second request associated with the second user.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising: presenting a graphical userinterface comprising a group of identifications of individuals; andreceiving a user selection of an identification of a user to associatewith the media file.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:obtaining a user access control for the media file; and restrictingaccess to the media file to a user based on the user access control. 20.The method of claim 15, wherein the media file is received by acomputing device, the computing device comprising one of a wirelesstelephony device, a set-top box, a digital video recorder, and a mediaplayer.